![]() The landscape of US's trade negotiations and the use of tariffs is changing on a daily, if not hourly basis. The biggest unknown is—are the tariffs a short-term bargaining move, or the opening salvo in a sustained trade war? Since the majority of produce used in US restaurants this time of year comes from Mexico, large amounts of potato products come from Canada and many dry good supplies are manufactured in China, the impact on the restaurant industry would be huge. What Has the WRA and National Restaurant Association Done So Far? Since November, the National Restaurant Association has engaged Capitol Hill, the Trump transition team, and the incoming White House staff to note the dependence of our industry on free and fair trade, the lack of domestic alternatives to imported produce and proteins, and restaurant's razor-thin profit margins that cannot sustain higher input costs. The WRA has engaged with members of the state legislature to reinforce the message of how increased wholesale food prices will hurt restaurants as well has hurt the Wisconsin economy that relies on exporting agricultural products to Canada, Mexico and China. If rural areas of Wisconsin, where our food manufacturing takes place, cannot export products, those communities will suffer economically, and restaurant traffic will decrease there. In reaction to the tariff announcement, the National Restaurant Association released the following statement: “In this rapidly changing landscape, small business restaurant operators are assessing how they will be impacted, so they can manage pricing pressures, secure key ingredients, and make potential menu adjustments—all while continuing to serve their communities. As the Trump Administration reevaluates trade policies, we are closely monitoring the impacts tariffs will have on food and beverage pricing, domestic sourcing options, and menu adaptation. We will continue to work with the Administration to ensure that restaurant operators’ concerns are heard.” —Michelle Korsmo, President and CEO, National Restaurant Association Questions? Contact us!
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